The ghosts that we knew

Chapter 23

~And our children come and they will hear me roar~

John, Riddick and the men with them moved silently through the jungle as they tracked Marlin and the women. They had the advantage in that they knew the area. Marlin didn't only not know area; he was in the unfortunate position of having Samantha and Carolyn with him.

Any of the children back at camp could have followed the trail the two women had made through the jungle with their eyes closed. He and Riddick had silently chuckled several times at the signs they had left.

As the group took a break, Riddick crouched down near the riverbank listening.

"What is it?" John asked dropping down beside him.

"Not sure. Something's happening on the other side of the river."

"Yeah, well we've got other fish to fry," John said grasping his shoulder.

Riddick nodded and the group moved forward once again.

John was impressed. Riddick was an efficient killer. He appreciated that.

When they reached the Mercs campsite there was no sign of the women.

Gathering Marlin and his men up, John and Riddick had taken turns questioning the men and then dispatching them, and as Marlin fell dead upon the jungle floor they still didn't know where Sam and Carolyn were.

They were on the run, but to where?

Making their way through the camp site, Riddick finally found what they had over looked before. Whistling, he got Reapers attention.

"They went in the river, here." Riddick said waiting for him to follow.

Giving his men orders to head back home, Reaper turned back to Riddick.

"If they floated downstream, they could have ridden the current a few miles before getting out on the other side. It would take them right back to camp."

"That's what I'm thinking." Riddick said moving into the water making his way across the river.

They stayed near the river's edge for several miles before they found where the women had come out. Separating they moved wordlessly into the jungle following the trail they had left. One of them was in distress and both John and Riddick were afraid they knew who that was. John found the tree first, crouching down to touch the blood on the scattered leaves below. Someone had attempted to cover their passing but had been sloppy about it.

Riddick picked up the trail, following it into the brush. His roar stirred the wildlife for miles around.

Sam gasped, pulling the baby closer to her chest, dropping to the ground as the forest came alive, the baby answering its cries. Getting back to her feet she picked up her pace knowing she wasn't far from camp.

"Aww, shit." John said as he skidded to a stop, watching as Riddick pulled Carolyn to his chest. There was blood everywhere.

Bending down beside them, he reached out feeling for a pulse. It was faint and thready.

"She's still alive," he breathed looking up at Riddick.

"Go, find Sam," Riddick told him as he shifted the woman in his arms.

"Riddick, there's still time."

"To ease your conscience? Maybe. I'll bring her home soon enough."

Nodding, John leaned over placing a kiss on Carolyn's forehead. "I love you," he whispered into her ear.

Getting to his feet, he took one last look at them and headed to camp.

Sam broke through the jungle screaming John's name as she skidded into camp. People came running, Echo getting to her first, catching her before she hit the ground. Barking out orders, he and his wife helped her into the hospital.

His wife who helped out there on a regular basis took the infant from Sam, placing her in the bassinet they had obtained just for this type of emergency. Leaving Sam to her husband, she cleaned the crying child, dressing her in a diaper and extra clothes that they kept here for when any of the children were ill.

She filled a bottle with some prepared formula and was preparing to feed the girl when Sam appeared next to her taking the bottle and the baby. She smiled at the young woman and left to find her husband.

Riddick leaned back against a tree with Carolyn on his lap, stroking her hair that spread across his chest.

"Riddick?"

He tilted her chin up and lowered his arm a bit so she could see his face.

"I'm here." He said gruffly.

"Sam?"

"Don't know. John's searching for her."

"The Mercs?"

He held a finger to her lips. "They've been taken care of."

She kissed his finger as she brought a hand up to grasp his.

"Sam took the baby. Needed them to be safe." She said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "A girl, Richard. She's beautiful."

Riddick swallowed back his tears, finding it hard to talk through the lump in his throat. "Yeah? What's her name?"

Carolyn smiled softly. "You name her. Don't let her forget about me."

"I won't, Carolyn. I promise." He said as a tear splashed on her cheek.

John burst into camp screaming Sam's name. The arms of people milling about simply pointed to the hospital. Sam turned as she heard him pounding across the wood floor just before he threw his arms around her, clutching her tightly, placing kisses all over her face. A noise from behind her had him dragging his eyes away from her. Keeping her tightly against him he took the few steps to the bassinet and the baby lying within it.

"It's a girl." Sam whispered. "Carolyn?" she asked as he leaned his forehead against hers, silently shaking it as he reached out to touch the baby.

"Riddick's with her."

They stood quietly just holding each other as they watched the sleeping child.

"Go get cleaned up, Sam. I'll keep watch."

Sam turned his face to look at her. "I love you, John."

"And I you," he replied with a kiss.

Nodding, Sam left the infirmary going home to shower and change clothes.

When she was gone, John picked up the infant and sat down in a nearby rocking chair that someone had found. Holding her in his arms, he cried for the first years.